Thousands of Middle Eastern students complete their studies in Canada every year. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can be one of them.

Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for international students. In fact, the international student population in Canada has more than tripled in the last 10 years.

Many of these students arrive from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Of the total number of international students in Canada, there are over 36,000 from the following MENA countries:

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank)

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sudan

Syria

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

An advantage MENA students may have over some of the other international students is their language ability, since English is taught in most MENA countries. In addition, many North African students are fluent in French, placing them in the ideal position to study at French-speaking institutions in provinces such as Quebec and New Brunswick, and cities such as Ottawa and Sudbury.

Why Canada is a great option for MENA students

Receive a quality education

Canada boasts some of the best universities in the world, with three in the top 100: The University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of British Columbia. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that many MENA students choose Canada.

Pay affordable tuition

Unlike in the United States and other popular study destinations, you don’t have to break the bank to study in Canada. You do pay a little more than Canadians as an international student but the international fees are still much lower than in other countries.

Study and work

Not only is tuition affordable, you can also work while you study. Typically, you’ll be allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week during the semester, and full time during scheduled breaks.

Enjoy a high quality of life

Embrace diversity and culture

It is important to remember that Canada is bilingual. If you speak English or French, you’ll settle in easily. Canada famously welcomes thousands of immigrants every year from all over the world. Because of this, Canada is very diverse and you’ll be exposed to many different cultures. In fact, it is estimated that 51% of the population of Toronto were born outside Canada.

This means that students unable to arrive to Canada in time for the fall 2020 semester can begin their Canadian educational program online, and not have time deducted from the length of their PGWP as long as they arrive to Canada by December 31, 2020.

You will still be eligible for the PGWP even if you arrive to Canada in 2021, although time outside of Canada in 2021 will result in a shorter PGWP length.

A longer PGWP duration is preferable since it gives MENA students more time to obtain the Canadian work experience that they need to become eligible for more of Canada’s immigration programs, which sometimes require that an immigration candidate have such work experience to be eligible for the given program.

Implied status: Students and graduates who are already in Canada with expired visas may continue to work provided they have applied for an extension.

Canada is helping international students during the coronavirus pandemic

Canada understands the importance of international students to its society and economy, and has therefore decided to help students impacted by COVID-19. The following are a number of ways the Canadian government are supporting international students:

Working hours: Students may be able to work for up to 40 hours per week in certain sectors.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): The CERB offers $500 per week for 16 weeks to eligible international students

Step-by-step guide to study in Canada if you’re from the MENA region

Step 1: Select a program at a university, college or other learning institution.

Once you are successful in your application, you will receive a letter of acceptance.

A study permit is a document that allows MENA students to legally study in Canada. You must apply with your letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution, and prove that you have enough funds to cover the first year of tuition. You must also be admissible to Canada, and you may be required to submit a police background check or a medical.

Study in Canada this fall

Canada embraces international students from some 200 different countries, and MENA students can find a home in Canada. There are many benefits to study in Canada from the MENA region, and Canada is doing its part to welcome international students from the MENA region and all corners of the globe in time for the fall 2020 semester.

Since March, Canada has sought to help international students experiencing disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

International students are extremely important to Canada’s society and economy. The 640,000 international students in Canada help to create a vibrant learning environment on campuses across the country. They also contribute some $22 billion to the economy each year which supports around 200,000 Canadian jobs.

Recognizing that international students have also been impacted by COVID-19 disruptions, Canada has announced a variety of special measures to help the international students already in the country, plus international students who would like to come to Canada in the near future.

Implied status

Current and former international students (e.g., a former international student who now holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit) who need to extend their stay in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic may be eligible for implied status.

Such individuals may benefit from implied status while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews their work/study permit extension application, and hence, they may continue studying or working in Canada as per the conditions of their original permit while IRCC makes a decision on their pending application.

Working hours

International students are usually restricted to working no more than 20 hours per week while class is in session. However, IRCC recently lifted this restriction. As a result, international students working in 10 priority sectors that are helping to fight COVID-19 are able to work more than 20 hours per week until August 31. These 10 sectors are:

Energy and utilities

Information and Communication Technologies

Finance

Health

Food

Water

Transportation

Safety

Government

Manufacturing

CERB

The federal government has launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to provide income support to those in Canada who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The CERB offers $500 per week for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers. International students who meet the CERB’s eligibility criteria may receive such income support.

PR pathways

In recent years, more international students have transitioned to permanent residence. International students possess the key human capital characteristics that federal and provincial governments look for when selecting immigrants. They are young, have high levels of education and English/French proficiency, and possess Canadian experience. Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, both levels of government have issued more invitations to apply for permanent residence to those with Canadian experience.

More time to submit immigration applications

IRCC has also become more lenient towards immigration applicants, given that the coronavirus may impact their ability to submit a completed application. IRCC has stated it will not refuse incomplete applications and will provide applicants affected by COVID-19 with an additional 90 days to complete the missing steps.

PGWP

The Post-Graduation Work Permit is critical to helping former international students gain the Canadian work experience that they may need to transition to permanent residence. In early April, IRCC announced that international students who were approved for a study permit to begin their program in Canada in May or June will be able to begin their program online without affecting their eligibility to eventually apply for a PGWP. In addition, the PGWP eligibility of international students already in Canada will not be affected by the online courses they are taking in the absence of in-class instruction.

More support for international students on the way?

Canada’s response to the coronavirus has been impressive, as it has gone above and beyond to accommodate immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers. Canada’s efforts to accommodate foreign nationals highlights significant differences between it and other countries, such as the United States.

One of the key takeaways since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis is that Canada has constantly sought new reforms to accommodate foreign nationals. The measures discussed above were not all rolled out at once, but rather, were gradually announced as IRCC and other Canadian government authorities considered how they can help foreign nationals in need.

As such, it is safe to say that the Canadian government will be open to introducing more help for the likes of international students if and when it is necessary.

Quebec’s Immigration Ministry announced that foreign students whose Quebec Acceptance Certificates are set to expire have been granted an automatic extension until December 31, 2020.

The Government of Quebec will automatically extend Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQ) issued to foreign students if they were set to expire between April 30, 2020, and December 31, 2020.

The Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) made the announcement on Thursday, April 30, and said the decision was a response to the concerns of its many partners in the education sector during the current pandemic.

“This decision is intended to facilitate the steps that must be taken by foreign students who were in the process of completing their study program but who must extend their stay in Quebec due to the current health state of emergency and the temporary interruption of their courses,” states the Quebec Immigration Ministry website.

Quebec’s Immigration Ministry wants to avoid unfairly penalizing foreign students who may not have been able to complete their program of study as planned in the winter or summer of 2020 because of the coronavirus crisis. The automatic extension of CAQs will make it easier for these students to renew their study permit with the federal government because they will temporarily not be required to have to go through a CAQ renewal process.

“These students can therefore submit an application to the federal government as soon as possible to have their study permit extended without having to include a new CAQ, which will allow them to maintain valid temporary residence status and to complete their study program when their courses resume,” says the government.

Foreign students will not be required to pay any fees for extending their CAQ.

The measure announced today does not apply to students who wish to obtain a CAQ for the fall semester or those who have a CAQ that expires after December 31, 2020, the ministry said.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a devastating impact on economies around the world.

The IMF projects the global economy will contract by 3 per cent in 2020, in what it calls the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Just days before it announced travel restrictions to help contain the spread of COVID-19, Canada said it would welcome over 1 million immigrants between 2020-2022, mainly to help grow its economy.

Of course, little did Canadian government officials know at the time of the announcement that the global economy would be heading towards such a major contraction.

Should Canada welcome more immigrants?

The current state of affairs may lead one to legitimately question whether Canada should continue with its immigration plan, or scale it back.

There is no doubt that COVID-19 will require Canada to adjust its immigration plan.

However, it would not be sound economic policy to significantly reduce Canada’s immigration levels beyond the coronavirus crisis.

The reason for this is that Canada needs immigrants more than it ever has in its modern history to promote economic growth.

Why Canada needs more immigrants

Canada’s desire to welcome over 300,000 immigrants per year is meant to help alleviate its demographic challenges.

Canada has one of the world’s lowest birth rates and one of the world’s oldest populations. As more Canadians retire, it will struggle to replace them in the labour market since the country is not having enough children. This is where immigration comes in.

Immigration has been the main driver of Canada’s population growth since the 1990s, and will be the only driver of it by the early 2030s.

Population growth is important because it fuels labour force growth. The two ways to grow an economy is by adding more workers and using those workers more productively.

Today, immigration tends to account for all of Canada’s labour force growth, or the vast majority of it, in a given year. This means that Canada would constrain its economic growth potential if it welcomed fewer immigrants.

Canada will see a full economic recovery

The consensus among economists is that the Canadian and global economy should rebound fairly quickly once social distancing measures have been eased.

This means that more Canadians will be back to work, and there will also be more job opportunities for immigrants.

Canada’s economy pre-coronavirus is very telling of what we can expect once the economy is back to normal.

Leading up to the coronavirus pandemic, Canada’s unemployment rate was at record lows and its economy enjoyed a decade of growth following the 2008 global financial crisis. Remember that Canada maintained high levels of immigration even following that crisis, which in hindsight, was the correct economic decision to make.

One significant reason for the low unemployment rate pre-coronavirus is many of Canada’s over 9 million baby boomers were retiring, which caused a shortage of workers as the economy was expanding. This benefitted Canadian-born workers and immigrants alike.

Similarly, Canadian-born workers and immigrants are poised to benefit from the post-coronavirus economic rebound. In the coming years, it is realistic to expect Canada to deal with worker shortages again, and even more so than prior to COVID-19 as all of Canada’s 9 million baby boomers reach the age of retirement within the next decade.

Immigration policy always has long-term economic implications and we should not lose sight of that even in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Immigrants will help to create more jobs post-coronavirus

Canada’s economy is facing tough times, but immigration will play a pivotal role in supporting Canada’s economic recovery since immigrants will help to fill newly-created jobs and also support job creation in other ways.

Statistics Canada research shows that immigrants have a high propensity to start businesses. In one of its recent studies, Statistics Canada found that immigrant entrepreneurs created 25 per cent of new private sector jobs between 2003 and 2013, even though they accounted for 17 per cent of companies studied. In other words, immigrant entrepreneurs punched above their weight when it came to job creation.

Hence, immigrant entrepreneurs post-coronavirus will create businesses that will create new jobs for fellow Canadians.

Finally, immigrants bring significant savings with them which helps to fuel the economic activity that is critical to fueling job creation in Canada.

Consider the useful proxy of international students. According to the federal government, the over 600,000 international students in Canada contribute over $22 billion in economic activity each year which supports nearly 200,000 Canadian jobs.

Canada has over 8 million immigrants, who make an even bigger contribution to economic growth and job creation than international students.

In 2019, Nigeria became the fourth-leading source country of new immigrants to Canada, behind India, China, and the Philippines.

A total of 12,600 Nigerians gained permanent residence last year, which represents a tripling of Nigerian immigration to Canada since 2015.

The vast majority of Nigerians came to Canada as economic class immigrants. The main way that Canada manages economic class immigration applications is through Express Entry, and 65 per cent of Nigerian immigrants gained Canadian permanent resident status through Express Entry in 2019.

Nigeria was actually the third-leading source country of those who received an invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence under Express Entry last year.

Why Nigerian immigration to Canada is booming

Several factors explain the rise in Nigerian immigration to Canada.

The oil-rich nation has seen its economic growth slow since the decline in global oil prices in 2014. Nigeria’s economy was growing by around 5 per cent per year leading up to 2014, but growth has since weakened to around 2 per cent annually.

As a result, more Nigerian professionals have sought to come to countries such as Canada in pursuit of economic opportunity.

Canada is an attractive destination for Nigerians because it offers economic opportunities in sectors which are appealing to Nigerian professionals, such as oil and gas, ICT, health care, and other STEM-related fields.

Nigerian professionals may also fare well under Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Factors such as English-language proficiency, having a high level of education, and possessing professional work experience are all taken into consideration when immigration candidates submit Express Entry profiles, factors which the Nigerian professionals who immigrate to Canada possess.

Given that English is their mother tongue, Nigerians have a significant advantage under Express Entry compared with most other nationalities since English-language proficiency comprises a major component of the CRS.

Post-coronavirus: Canada set to welcome more Nigerian immigrants

Once the coronavirus has been contained and we return to a sense of normalcy, we should continue to expect higher levels of Nigerian immigration to Canada.

Global oil prices have plummeted once again, which will create economic challenges for oil-rich countries around the world.

Canada’s rising immigration levels over the coming years will open up more economic class immigration spots, including through Express Entry.

Canada’s openness to immigrants also runs in stark contrast to other countries which have historically welcomed high levels of Nigerian immigrants, such as the United States and Great Britain. The recent U.S. decision to expand its travel ban to include Nigeria may result in more prospective Nigerian immigrants looking to Canada.

More Nigerians are also studying in Canada. There are currently around 12,000 Nigerian students in Canada, and these students will be well-placed to transition to permanent resident status due to their youth, English language fluency, Canadian education, and Canadian work experience.

When you add these factors together, it is reasonable to expect further increases in the number of Nigerian immigrants welcomed by Canada.

America’s temporary ban on immigration is set to come into effect now that President Donald Trump has followed through with a promise he first made on Twitter Monday evening.

Trump signed an Executive Order on Wednesday that takes effect at 11:59 PM EST on Thursday April 23. The Executive Order will suspend the processing of permanent resident applications made by those outside of the United States for 60 days. It contains some exemptions; for instance, the ban will not apply to health care professionals or researchers seeking to enter the U.S. as immigrants to help combat COVID-19.

Trump’s immigration ban is being criticized for having less to do with stopping the spread of coronavirus, and more to do with his own political agenda leading up to the presidential election this fall.

Cristobal Ramón, a senior policy analyst with the Bipartisan Policy Centre in the U.S., calls the move “purely political” given that the U.S. was already processing fewer immigration applications as a result of COVID-19. This de facto pause in U.S. immigration processing would, theoretically, have resolved itself in time without Trump’s intervention.

“He is trying to come up with a narrative that allows him to assert control over the way people are perceiving his response to COVID-19 and I think what we’re seeing is that there is no coherent narrative,” Ramón told CIC News. “He is trying to find whatever works in order to stave off criticism.”

He also says the president’s move lacks intentionality in its approach, implementation, and messaging.

Canada will not be adopting any similar immigration suspension, according to a Radio-Canada report.

Despite the havoc the coronavirus has wreaked onto the global economy, Canada still recognizes that immigration supports the labour market and the country’s economic growth.

Though Canada has also enacted temporary restrictions on foreign travel as part of its efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, applications for permanent residence are still being approved and the government is still holding immigration draws to invite more people to submit permanent residence applications.

Canada’s per capita immigration intake triple that of U.S.

Canada welcomes three times as many immigrants on a per capita basis than the U.S.

Canada has a population of about 38 million and is now welcoming around 340,000 immigrants per year (0.9% of its population).

The U.S. has a population of some 330 million and welcomes around 1.1 million immigrants per year (0.3% of its population).

Nearly 60 per cent of Canada’s immigrants arrive under the economic class, followed by 26 per cent under the family class, and 14 per cent as refugees.

The U.S. admits about 10 per cent of its immigrants under the economic class, 70 per cent under the family class, and 20 per cent as refugees.

Canadian provinces have more immigration powers than U.S. states

Immigration is a matter of shared federal-provincial jurisdiction under Canada’s constitution. This enables the provinces and territories to manage their own immigration programs so they can welcome newcomers that meet their economic needs.

Just like Canada, the U.S., is a federation, and while U.S. states have strong powers under the country’s constitution, they do not have the authority to welcome immigrants.

This distinction is important because whereas in Canada, the federal government cannot restrict immigration without facing pressure from the provinces and territories, the U.S. federal government has full authority over the country’s immigration system and does not need to respond to the desire of certain states to welcome more immigrants to address labour shortages.

U.S. government gridlock

Another major difference between Canada and the U.S. when it comes to immigration is their political systems. Canada has a parliamentary system of government, which means that a federal political party that wins a majority or a strong minority has significant control over the country’s policies. This enables Canada to enact new immigration policies and plans fairly easily.

On the other hand, the U.S. has a presidential system, whereby power is shared equally between the president, congress, and senate. This has resulted in political gridlock in many policy areas, including in immigration, since the three branches of government need to reach consensus on major issues before enacting new policies and plans.

Both the Democrats and Republicans have long agreed that U.S. immigration reform is necessary, but remain unable to agree on the nature of the reform.

Canada has more control over its borders which is critical for public support

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two countries is their ability to manage irregular migration.

Given that control over who enters one’s country is critical to maintaining public support for immigration, Canada tends to have higher levels of public support for newcomers than the U.S.

Prior to coronavirus, Canada had seen higher levels of irregular migration than in recent history, with thousands of asylum-seekers crossing the Canada-U.S. border.

However, Canada’s asylum figures pale in comparison to the U.S., which has long had high levels of irregular migrants crossing into the country from its southern border in pursuit of refuge and economic opportunity.

As a result, whereas immigration debates in the U.S. are dominated by discussions on national security, Canadian immigration debates tend to centre around how to enhance the economic benefits of immigration.

Canada is still allowing exempt immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers to enter the country. It has also announced more lenient measures to help accommodate immigration applicants who are not able to submit their complete documentation to the federal government because of coronavirus-related disruptions.

Perhaps the biggest indication of Canada’s resounding commitment to welcoming immigrants, even despite the coronavirus pandemic, is that both the federal government and provinces continue to hold immigration draws to invite successful candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence:

Four reasons why Canada won’t halt immigration

Despite the unprecedented times we live in, there are four major reasons why Canada will not halt immigration:

History: Canada is a country that was built by immigrants and its Indigenous peoples. Canada’s history of accommodating people from around the world continues to guide its efforts to accommodate newcomers so they can continue to support Canada’s economic and social vibrancy.

Geography: Canada’s geography is favourable when it comes to immigration since it can exercise strong control over who can enter the country. As mentioned above, this allows Canada to have high levels of public support for immigration and continue to welcome high levels of immigration.

Policy: Stakeholders across Canada recognize immigration is critical to sustaining its high living standards. Canada has an aging population and low birth rate, which is constraining its economic growth and creating fiscal pressures. As a result, immigrants are predominantly welcomed under the economic class to stimulate Canada’s economy and support its fiscal standing. Stakeholders work together to enact various policies to support the welcoming of immigrants and the integration of newcomers into Canadian society.

Politics: Immigrants account for over 20 per cent of Canada’s population and many citizens are second, third, and fourth-generation Canadians. Given that immigrants mostly reside in Canada’s largest cities, Canadian political parties usually need to appeal to immigrants in order to win power.

Canada’s immigration policies and procedures have undergone daily changes over the past week as Canada seeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

One of Canada’s major measures has been to implement travel restrictions between March 18 and June 30, however Canada is still exempting certain permanent and temporary residents from the restrictions so that they can enter the country.

CIC News has compiled the following frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers to help you understand the changes:

Can I still submit an Express Entry profile and my permanent residence application?

IRCC is still processing permanent residence applications. It is processing completed applications as per its normal procedures and providing individuals who are unable to submit completed applications with an additional 90 days if such individuals have experienced delays obtaining documents due to coronavirus-related disruptions.

Who can come to Canada?

IRCC has confirmed that the following individuals are among those who can still come to Canada between now and June 30. IRCC has asked that exempted individuals continue to monitor the federal government’s website before they book their return travel to Canada:

Canadian citizens

Permanent residents

Immediate family of Canadian citizens and permanent residents

Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence prior to March 16 and who had not yet travelled to Canada

Temporary foreign workers

International students who held a valid study permit or had been approved for one as of March 18

Canada and the U.S. have mutually agreed to stop non-essential traffic between the two countries. Canadians visiting the U.S. would still be allowed to return home.

Can I flagpole?

Do not travel to the Canada-U.S. border to update your immigration status until further notice has been provided by the federal government. The federal government has stated that travelling to the border for immigration purposes to update permanent residence, temporary residence, or visitor status (also known as “flagpoling”), is deemed non-essential travel. Those in Canada on a temporary basis can apply online on IRCC’s website to update their status.

What are Canada’s land travel exemptions?

All essential travel between Canada and the U.S. will continue, ensuring supply chains of food and life-saving medicines resume.

Can I still apply for temporary residence?

Yes. IRCC will continue to accept and process new applications for temporary residence. However, you will not be able to travel to Canada until the travel restrictions have been lifted.

Does the coronavirus pandemic impact IRCC’s processing times?

There may be delays in processing times due to service disruptions and restrictions.

What do I do if my temporary status as a visitor, worker or student is about to expire?

If you are currently in Canada, you are able to apply to extend your status online. You will be allowed to remain in Canada until a decision is made on your new application. You should not travel to a port of entry to apply.

Will I still be able to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if my course of study is being delivered online?

If your course is being delivered online due to the coronavirus pandemic, this will not affect your eligibility to the PGWP Program, and you may still apply.

What is the impact on refugees and asylum seekers?

Canada relies on the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other organizations to identify refugees that need to be resettled. Last week, the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced the temporary suspension of resettlement travel for refugees. These organizations may make alternative arrangements for refugees in transit.

Canada continues to accept asylum claimants in Canada, except those who wish to make an asylum claim at the US-Canada border. The two countries announced that irregular migrants attempting to cross the border will also be returned.